By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

Colleges and universities are taking notice of the growing interest in vegan/vegetarian/plant-based diets. If you’re interested in a program, you’ll need to investigate to see if it meets your needs and if you are eligible for the program. Programs described as “plant-based” may or may not focus on vegan nutrition.

Here are some examples of programs offering everything from a certificate to a Masters degree.

Loma Linda University School of Public Health offers an online Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in plant-based nutrition. The program offers “a variety of courses in nutritional science with an emphasis on the role of plant-based dietary practices in human health and the environment.” The degree program includes research, culminating in either a publishable manuscript or a written report and there is a written comprehensive examination. Applicants must have completed a BS degree in biology, nutrition, or equivalent field, or a health professional degree (MD, DDS, etc.) from a regionally accredited institution.

Andrews University School of Population Health, Nutrition & Wellness offers an online Masters of Science in Nutrition & Wellness (Plant-Based Emphasis). The program has a vegetarian emphasis. It is taught online with 8 week long classes. Applicants must have completed their bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in Nutrition & Dietetics and have a verification statement(s) prior to the start of the program or be in their senior year completing a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).

The University of Connecticut Department of Nutritional Sciences offers a Plant-Based Food and Nutrition Online Graduate Certificate. This program consists of 4 on-line courses (Macronutrient Metabolism, Vitamins and Minerals, Plant-based Diets & Nutrition, and Plant-based Food Products)  which can be taken over 1 to 2 years. It is designed  for “healthcare practitioners, research and culinary medicine chefs, food product developers, and other industry professionals to gain specialized training in the research-advised development of plant-based meal plans and products.” Applicants must have completed a Baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. Credits earned from this course can be applied towards an MS degree at the University of Connecticut. The cost (in 2024) is $11,100.

Cosumnes River College In collaboration with the Department of Horticulture and the Department of Nutrition and Foods offers a Certificate of Proficiency in Plant-Based Nutrition & Sustainable Agriculture. This program provides the coursework focused on developing “knowledge and skills in plant-based nutrition, plant-based food preparation, and sustainable agriculture.” It includes 3 courses, Plant-based Nutrition, Plant-based Food Principles and Preparation, and Sustainable Agriculture. It is taught in in-person in Sacramento, CA.

Cornell University’s online education department, eCornell, offers an online certificate in Plant-based Nutrition. This video-based program features three 2-week online courses and has no prerequisites. The cost (in 2024) is $949.

If you are aware of other university-affiliated programs, let us know. We will publish an updated list in the future.

The contents of this website and our other publications, including Vegetarian Journal and Vegan Journal, are not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. We often depend on product and ingredient information from company statements. It is impossible to be 100% sure about a statement, info can change, people have different views, and mistakes can be made. Please use your best judgment about whether a product is suitable for you. To be sure, do further research or confirmation on your own.